Permutation-padlock.



No.-65'9,045. Patented Oct. 2, |900 A. AMESS.

PE'BMUTATION PADLOCK'.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1900.)

(Nn-ModeL) FIG. \5. FIGJ4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AGNESS AMESS, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

PERM UTATlON-PADLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 9, dated 001101061 2, 1900- Application filed February 26, 1900. Serial No. 61444. (No model.)

T 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AGNESS AMESS, of the city ofMinneapolis,county of Hennepin,State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation -Padlocks,of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates to perm utation-locks; and one object of the invention is to provide improvementsin the construction of the lock shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 643,448, granted to me February 13, 1900.

A further object is to adapt the lock shown in said patent for use as a bicycle-lock.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved bicycle-lock. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the locking devices removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the lock closed. Fig. 5 is a view of one of the locking members. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line a a of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line b b of Fig. 2. Fig.8 is a sectional view on the line 0 c of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 01 d of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 6 e of Fig. 4. Figs. 11 and 12 are views of the tumblers. Figs. 13 and 14 are views of the spring provided within the tumblers. Figs. 15 and 16 are sectional views of the tumblers, showing the springs therein. Fig. 17 is a view of one of the sectional washers. Figs. 18 and 19 are views showing a modifi cation of the sectional washer opened and closed. Figs. 20 and 21 are views of a springwasher for locking the sectional washer in position. Fig. 22 is a view of the frictional washer.

In the drawings, 2 represents a curved arm or member having a stud 3 at one end and at the other end a head 4, wherein a recess 5 is provided to receive the exposed end of the lock mechanism, as hereinafter described. Formed integrally with the head 4 is a hollow spline 6, having a longitudinal slot 7, wherein a locking-bar Sis arranged, having a series of teeth 9 projecting through said slot. The

outer end of said bar is provided with an inclined slot 10, through which passes a pin 11, securing said bar within the hollow spline.

The inner end of said bar extends into a recess 12 in said head, and a spring 13 is provided beneath said bar and normally holds the same in a raised position with its teeth projecting through said slot, its innerend in engagement with the wall at the top of the recess 12 and the pin 11 at the bottom of the slot 10. A sufficient space is provided beneath said bar to permit it to be depressed when the members of the lock are forced together; but when the lock is closed the inclination of the slot 10 with respect to the teeth of the bar will produce a wedging eiTect should any one attempt to pull the lock open and serve to draw the teeth of the bar and the locking-washers closer together. I prefer to provide a locking-bar having three teeth corresponding to the number of tumblers provided on the look; but it will be understood that a greater or less number of teeth and tumblers may be provided,if preferred. The other member of the lock comprises an arm 14, having a socket 15 to receive the stud 3, and a head 16, provided on its periphery with a series of letters or characters corresponding to the characters provided on the periphery of the tumblers and forming the first letter of the word that composes the combination of the look. A hollow shaft or spindle 17 is formed integrally with said head and is adapted to receive the spline 6 and is provided with a longitudinal slot- 18, wherein the locking-bar 8 is slidable.

19 represents a series of rotating tumblers provided on the spindle 17 and having flanged peripheries 19, provided with aseries of characters which when the tumblers are rotated may be alined with any one of the characters on the periphery of the head 16, permitting the operator to form any desired combination of letters or characters, substantially as described in my patent referred to. The spindle 17 is provided with a series of annular grooves 20 to receive sectional washers arranged between the tumblers. These washers comprise a section 21, semicircular in form, having notches 22 in its end to receive the ends of a segment 23, fitting therein and completing the circle. The segment 23 is provided with a slot 24, and the section 21 has a pin 25 opposite the slot 24 and adapted to tit into one of a series of depressions 26, provided on one face of the tumblers 19. Each of these depressions is opposite a character on the periphery of the tumbler, and when the tumblers have been set to the proper combinations to permit the lock to be opened the slots 24 will register with the longitudinal slot in the spindle, permitting the lockingbar to be drawn out; but upon turning the tumblers in either direction the notches 24 will be moved away from the slot in the spindle and the bar locked therein. The sectional washers are concealed and protected from injury within recesses provided in frictional washers 19", arranged on said spindle between the tumblers.

into a longitudinal groove 27, provided in said spindle, and whereby said washers are locked against rotation.

In adapting this form of lock for use as a bicycle-lock it is desirable to provide some means whereby the operator can ascertain the position of the tumblers in the dark. I therefore prefer to provide a zero or starting point for all the tumblers and in connection with each tumbler employ a click device, each click produced by rotating the tumbler, indicating to the operator that the tumbler has advanced one letter or character. If the operator knows the characters that are in alinement on the tumblers and head when the tumblers are at their starting-point, by counting the clicks as each tumbler is rotated he can easily set the tumblers for any desired combination, even if it is too dark to see the characters. With this end in view I provide a spring 28, in the form of a Hat ring split on one side and having its ends spread apart and one provided with a lug 29, adapted to slide in said longitudinal groove to prevent the spring from turning with the tumblers. The opposite end of the spring is provided with a rounded projection 30, that bears upon the annular series of projections 31, provided in the opposite face of each tumbler from the depressions 26. One end of the spring being locked in the groove 27, it will be obvious that as each tumbler is turned the opposite end of the spring will slide over the lugs 31 and produce a cliekin sound as the tumbler is rotated. To form a starting-point for the tu n1- blers and permit the operator to ascertain stance, the lock should be made with the lug cut away opposite the letter X on each of The operator, knowing this,

the tumblers.

The frictional wash-- ers are provided with lugs 19, adapted to fitcan easily set the tumblers in the dark back to the starting-point, and then counting the clicks from that point readily open the lock set for any combination.

All the sectional washers are concealed and protected from injury by any one attempting to pick the look by the frictional washers provided between the tumblers; but at the outer end of the hollow spindle, where no frictional washer is used, I prefer to provide another form of locking-washer, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. This washer consists of two sections 32 and 33, hinged together at one end. At their opposite ends the sections are provided, respectively, with a lug 34 and a notch 35. When the sections are pressed together, the lug entering the notch will lock the ends of the section and prevent the washer from being accidentally disengaged from its groove. 'lhis washer has a pin and slot corresponding to those provided in the washer illustrated in Fig. 17. To prevent the sectional washer from slipping otf the end of the spindle, I prefer to provide a spring-washer 3t, spliton one side and having lugs 37 on its ends. An annular groove 38 is provided in the end of the spindle adapted to receive said springwasher, and the lugs 37, engaging the edges of the longitudinal groove in said spindle, as shown in Fig. 1, prevent the washer from rotating with the tumbler. In Fig. 5 I have shown a spindle wherein the spring-washer is dispensed with, a single groove being provided to receive the form of washer shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

To prevent the spline from being pulled out of the hollow spindle when the lock is opened, I prefer to provide a lug 39, formed by cutting away the nnder side of the spline, and in said hollow spindle I provide a transverse slot 40, adapted to receive the locking-plate 41, that is held in said slot by one of the frictional washers. As shown in Fig. 3, the plate 41 will engage the lug on the spline and prevent the members of the lock from being pulled apart.

I consider the form of sectional washer shown in Fig. 17 preferable to the one em ployed between the tumblers in my patent referred to above, as the sections 21 and 23 fit snugly together and are less liable to drop out of place than when made in two equal parts, and consequently require less support from the frictional washers. At the end of the spindle I prefer to use the washer shown in Figs. 18 and 19, as in this position the washer is not inclosed, as it is between the tumblers, and it is consequently desirable to lock the ends of the sections together.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Pateut- 1. A permutation lock, comprising two members having heads provided with outwardly-extendinginterlocking arms, aspline havinga longitudinal slot provided on the head of one member, a toothed locking-bar Its provided in said slot and having an inclined slot, a pin passing through the slot in said bar and permitting a limited vertical and lougitudinal movement thereof, a spring provided beneath said bar and normally holding the same in the upper part of the slot in said spline, a hollow spindle wherein said spline is slidable and having a longitudinal slot to receive said bar and provided with a series of annular grooves, a series of rotating tumblers provided on said. spindle, a corresponding series of washers provided in said annular grooves and controlled by the movement of said tumblers and adapted to engage the teeth of said bar and thereby lock said members together, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a permutation-lock, with a locking member having a hollow spindle, of a second member having a spline and a locking-bar slidable in said spindle, said spindle having a series of annular grooves in its surface and provided also with a longitudinal slot to receive said bar, a sectional washer provided in each of said annular grooves and comprising interlocked sections 21 and 23 having, respectively, a pin 25 and a slot 24, a series of tumblers corresponding in number to said washers provided on said spindle and having annular depressions to receive said pins 25, whereby said washers are rotated with said tumblers, and said slots 24 being adapted to register with the longitudinal slot in said spindle as said washers and tumblers are rotated, substantially as described.

3. In a lock of the class described, the combination, with a member, having a hollow spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, of a series of rotating tumblers provided on said spindle, each tumbler having an annular series of lugs in its surface, springs provided on said spindle having lugs to enter the longitudinal groove therein and be locked thereby against rotary movement and the free ends of said springs being adapted to bear upon said lugs as said tumblers are rotated, substantially as described.

4. In a lock of the class described, the combination, with a member havinga hollow spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, of a series of rotary tumblers provided thereon, each tumbler being provided with an annular series of lugs or projections arranged at in tervals on said tumblers, springs comprising split rings having lugs to enter said longitudinal groove and hear at their opposite ends upon said lugs in said tumblers and adapted to slide over the same as said tumblers are rotated and one or more of said lugs on said tumblers being cut away to permit the ends of said springs to drop into the space between the preceding and succeeding lugs and thereby limit the rotation of said tumblers in one direction, substantially as described.

5. In a lock of the class described, the combination, with a memberhavinga hollow spindle provided with a longitudinal groove, of a series of rotating tumblers provided thereon, each having an annular series of lugs or projections, a spring provided in each of said tumblers, each spring having a lug to enter said longitudinal groove and bear upon said lugs in said tumblers as they are rotated, and one or more of said lugs in said tumblers being cut away to permit the end of the spring to drop into the space between the succeeding and precedinglugs and thereby lock said tumblers against rotation in one direction, substantially as described.

6. In a lock of the class described, the combination, with a memberhavingahollowspindle provided with a series of annular grooves and a longitudinal slot and a longitudinal groove, of a second member having a spline telescoping with said spindle and a toothed locking-bar slidable in said slot, a series of tumblers provided on said spindle, frictional washers provided between said tumblers and having lugs to enter said groove, sectional washers provided in said annular groove and adapted to rotate with said tumblers and having slots adapted to register with said longitudinal slot, a washer provided at the end of said spindle and comprising two sections hinged together, on one side of said washer and provided with an interlocking notch and lug upon the opposite side, whereby the sections are held firmly together, and a springwasher provided on said spindle outside said hinged washer, substantially as described.

7. In a lock of the class described, the combination, with a locking member, having a hollow spindle provided with a longitudinal slot and a series of annular grooves in its surface, of-a series of rotating tumblers provided on said spindle, a washer adapted to rotate with said tumblers provided in the annular groove at the end of said spindle and comprising two sections 32 and 33 hinged together, said sections having, respectively, an inter- Qlocking lug and notch on the opposite side from said hinge, and a slot to register with said longitudinal slot, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of February, 1900.

AGNESS AMESS.

In presence of RICHARD PAUL, M. (J. NOONAN. 

